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Homeland Security and Geographic Information Systems

How GIS and mapping technology can save lives and protect property in
post-September 11th America

Introduction

Timely, accurate information, easily accessed and capable
of being shared across federal, state, and local political jurisdictions
is fundamental to the decision making capability of those tasked with
the homeland security mission. But without the real-time ability to quickly
visualize activity patterns, map locations, and understand the multi-
layered geospatial context of emergency situations, homeland security
will not be achieved.

The current state of geospatial information technology
can provide decision-makers the data they need to confidently confront
a wide variety of threats including natural disasters, terrorist attacks,
sabotage, and similar crises. However, the current implementation
of that technology, across all the federal, state, and local agencies
and jurisdictions necessary to fully coordinate an effective response,
is seriously lacking in specific areas.

As the concept of Homeland Security becomes infused into
the work-a-day pattern of government and the everyday life of our citizens,
decision makers will greatly profit from the crisis management "edge"
that GIS provides. Homeland Security leaders should understand and implement
the policy changes necessary to fully realize this technology's capability,
and make the management decisions necessary to implement it on a national
basis.

Background

As never before, in the aftermath of the terrorist attacks
of September 11, it has become clear that in emergency situations of whatever
origin our Nation is dependent on rapid access to and application of many
types of current, accurate geospatial information. Critical information
such as:

Powerful geographic information systems are now available
that quickly render one to several layers of digital geospatial data into
map-like products. These systems can facilitate near-real time performance
of a wide range of relevant geospatial analyses. These systems can be
used to access and process digital geospatial data virtually anywhere
because it, unlike analog data, can be instantly transmitted from wherever
it's maintained and stored to any place where its needed.

These characteristics make geographic information technologies,
combined with appropriate sets of geospatial information, an invaluable
tool for the handling, display, and analysis of information involved in
every aspect of Homeland Security. For example:

Detection: Geospatial information provides the
spatial and temporal backdrop upon which effective and efficient threat
analysis is accomplished. By linking and analyzing temporally and spatially
associated information in real time, patterns may be detected that lead
to timely identification of likely modalities and targets.

Preparedness: Emergency planners and responders
must often depend on geospatial information to accomplish their mission.
Current, accurate information that is readily available is crucial to
ensuring the readiness of teams to respond. Geospatial information access
and interoperability standards are essential elements as they support
the means for the Nation's response units to react to terrorist attacks,
natural disasters, and other emergencies.

Prevention: Geospatial information provides
a means to detect and analyze patterns regarding terrorist threats and
possible attacks. This information, coupled with information about borders,
waters, and airspace, in turn may lead to the disruption of their plans
or the prevention or interdiction of their attacks.

Protection: Geospatial information is a very
important component in the analysis of critical infrastructure vulnerabilities
and in the use of decision support technologies such as visualization
and simulation to anticipate and protect against cascading effects of
an attack on one system as it relates to other interdependent systems.

Response and Recovery: Geospatial information
has been used by many organizations in response to and recovery from
natural disasters. Similarly, this information is invaluable for emergency
response services of all kinds, as well as for carrying out long-term
recovery operations. The Federal Response Plan, developed by 26 federal
agencies and the Red Cross, identifies overall responsibilities and
the concept of operations for presidential declared disasters. A number
of emergency support functions are identified, with the Federal Emergency
Management Agency (FEMA) having the lead for coordinating response to
natural disasters and the federal wildland agencies responsible for
coordinating response to wildland fires.

Current Status

Accurate and comprehensive data are the heart of information
technology, and geographic location is a key feature of 80-90% of
all government data. It is critical that as a Nation we take the
steps necessary to assure that strategic information assets relative to
Homeland Security -- particularly geospatial information assets -- are
created, are maintained for currency and accuracy, are readily available
to those who need them, and are interoperable. Although Homeland Security
requires much of the same basic real-time spatial information needed for
other uses and applications, we know from recent events that it must be
immediately and comprehensively available.

In short, we need to assure:

Implementation of a comprehensive national spatial data infrastructure,

Interoperability of the systems that process this information, and

Commonality of the processes that collect, manage, and disseminate
geospatial information.

Fortunately the Nation already has a well-founded interagency
effort under way to build such a National Spatial Data Infrastructure
(NSDI) under the auspices of the Federal Geographic Data Committee (FGDC)
which is chartered by the Office of Management and Budget. The NSDI provides
crosscutting mechanisms for organizations of many types, affiliations,
and responsibilities to be able to collaborate in assuring that geospatial
data and systems are in-place, ready for use. The data, technology, and
associated intergovernmental and government-private mechanisms forged
in this effort will be invaluable to intelligence, law enforcement, and
other national security-related elements, as well as to local communities,
in dealing with terrorism and other major threats to public safety and
welfare.

In collaboration with all levels of government, industry,
and academia, the FGDC and its member federal agencies have in-place a
wide variety of effective organizational relationships and processes that
could readily be used and expanded upon as needed -- given appropriate
sanction and backing -- to produce a nationally consistent framework of
Homeland Security-related base data characterized by common data content
standards and supported by interoperable technologies. Several examples
already exist of how this process works well:

The coordinated application and use of geospatial data in New York
City in response and recovery to the World Trade Center attack.

Development of geospatial data as a foundation for critical infrastructure
protection and emergency preparedness/response in the greater Chicago
area.

The use of geospatial information in wildfire suppression through
the coordinated work of the Geospatial Multi-Agency Coordinating Group

However, at present there are gaps that should be filled
to achieve assurance of data and technology accessibility and interoperability.
Examples are:

National data standards still need to be developed for a number
of framework and other data themes to provide data that is immediately
useful in Homeland Security events.

NSDI Framework Themes are not yet complete.

E911 capabilities are limited by the lack of consistent, standardized
road data across the Nation, preventing true interoperability between
all levels of government.

Current and accurate information about the Nation's critical infrastructure
is not consistently available or shareable among relevant agencies,
leaving the Nation unable to effectively plan for modern terrorist
activities.

The FGDC believes it is imperative that the Nation accelerate
implementation of the NSDI. As we move forward to improve and support
planning and management activities, the contribution of geospatial information
and technologies in support of critical decision- making should be fully
utilized. The NSDI has already established certain standards, processes,
and relationships that serve to advance Homeland Security including:

Well established relationships with Federal, State, Local and Tribal
governments and ongoing coordination mechanisms such as I-Teams, an
initiative to collect basic framework data collaboratively among all
levels of government.

A multi-node geospatial information Clearinghouse Network that can
be extended to promote rapid discovery, sharing, and protection of critical
geospatial information.

Access to industry and international standards bodies and programs
to advance standards that promote data consistency and interoperability
of spatial technologies.

Recommendations

It is our opinion that more needs to be done to fully
realize the potential this technology brings to decision making. To that
end, we recommend that the Office of Homeland Security consider the following
recommendations: